Cloudbursts claim 59 lives in Leh

Leh, Aug 6 (PTI) At least 59 people were killed and
many others went missing after heavy downpour triggered flash
floods devastating Leh town Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh region.
59 bodies have been recovered from the flooded areas,
J and K Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda said. Among
the dead were three jawans of the Army Service Corps.
He said a massive rescue operation was underway
involving the state police, paramilitary forces and the army
in Leh town in western part of India's northernmost state of
Jammu and Kashmir.
50 CRPF jawans were rescued from the flooded areas,
Khoda said.
The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) network was
completely damaged, besides the runway of the Leh airport,
cutting off the town from the rest of the country.
The district hospital and two buildings housing
offices of the Union Home Ministry were also affected.
Five villages have been hit in the sudden downpour and
flashfloods. These included Choglumsar and Shapoo. Old Leh
city was among the worst affected. The main bus stand was
flattened.
Leh is located at a height of 11,500 feet above sea
level, 424 kilometres from Srinagar. The worst hit was
Choglumsar area, 13 kms from here, where 14 bodies were
recovered, officials said.
Khoda said the toll may go up. "The actual damage will
be known only after the water receded," another senior
official said.
State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while expressing
grief over the tragedy, has directed the civil and police
administration to undertake relief and rescue work on a war
footing.
All flights from Delhi to Leh have been cancelled.
PTI